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CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

The happy couple had wrung out their clothing and hung it to dry the rest of the way while they snacked and enjoyed a little afternoon nap au naturale.

There were no biting insects in their little corner of paradise, so the only thing they had to be concerned with were the sun’s rays, and given the ample shade under which to enjoy the near-perfect climate, that was never an issue.

By the time they roused and dressed, their clothing was pretty much dry.

Had they really needed it, they had extra attire in their storage container, but that had never proven to be a pressing need.

Not in this place. If they had to spend some time nude, well, they could find ways to pass the time in that manner while waiting for the water in the fabric to evaporate.

They strolled hand-in-hand up the hill, wandering casually, enjoying the clear air and invigoratingly fresh breeze, their love almost tangibly buzzing between them. This was home, and it was perfect.

Zepharos froze, his eyes locking on the imposing man standing atop a large rock a few dozen meters from them.

“What is it?” Maria asked, then saw what he was looking at .

The man was dressed in proper outdoorsman attire, and by the way he wore it, it looked like he actually knew what he was doing in the wild. Maria felt her adrenaline increase, ready to run, but Zepharos held her hand firmly in place.

“Do not move,” he said quietly, noting the weapon on the man’s hip. They had no proper cover. If they ran, they could be mowed down with ease.

But the man just stood there, watching them, and to Zepharos’s surprise, he seemed to have an almost reluctant look in his eyes, as if he was mulling over an important decision. Then, to the couple’s surprise, he turned from them a moment later.

“I don’t see anything,” he called out, but not in their direction. He was clearly not alone. “We should keep moving.”

A crashing through the brush a moment later made it clear that whoever was with the stealthy man lacked any such hunting skills.

“What do you mean?” an annoyed man’s voice called out.

A voice that sounded strangely familiar to Maria. A moment later she realized why when Flagro and Galla stepped into view, the two elites she’d competed against in the games intruding on her home. Flagro’s eyes went wide as he pointed excitedly, fumbling for the weapon on his hip.

“There! There, you blind idiot!” he shouted, managing to pull his weapon free and fire off a flurry of poorly aimed shots.

Two struck home, however, the stun blasts dropping the couple to the ground in a heap, conscious, but immobile.

“I got them!” Flagro exclaimed with glee, rushing toward his prey, his sister hot on his heels.

The hunter followed close behind, a sad look on his face.

“Well? Don’t just stand there! Pick her up!” Flagro commanded.

Maddix moved toward Maria but stopped as the elite switched his weapon to a far deadlier setting, aiming it at the fallen man’s head. Maddix grabbed it and forced the elite’s arm down.

“What are you doing? We should end this one.”

“No,” was the quiet but firm reply.

“No? He stole my father’s property.”

“I said no. Leave him. You have your prisoner.”

Flagro’s eyes flashed anger. “You dare oppose me?”

Maddix, in a rare show of disobedience, locked his eyes with the young man, his gaze cold and hard. “Your father tasked me with bringing this woman back. Nothing more.”

“But—”

“Leave it,” he said, calm and cool, but with a tone that was enough to send a chill down even the over-confident elite’s spine.

Flagro sputtered then turned and stormed off. “Fine. But my father will hear about this.”

“I’m sure he will,” Maddix replied, bending to pick up Maria’s immobile form. He locked eyes with her stunned lover, a truly regretful look in his gaze. “It will wear off soon enough,” he said in a hushed voice. “We are taking her back to the chancellor. I’ll keep her safe until then.”

He then rose and turned, walking away, the incapacitated woman in his arms, her mate lying on the ground, frozen in place, unable to speak but screaming on the inside as he watched, utterly helpless.

I’ll get you back, Zepharos swore, hoping she could feel his mind reaching out to her. Whatever it takes, I will get you back .

But for now, all he could do was watch helplessly as his love and her captors disappeared over the ridge.